Neulich hatten wir hier noch das sinistre Original-Filmchen zu "Behold the Hurricane", dem durch die Vordertür hereinrauschenden Trennungsdrama von Brian Fallons Nebenbei-Band The Horrible Crowes.
Das formidable Album "Elsie" aber hat selbstverständlich auch Liedgut zu beaten, dem auf die schnelle Radioart nicht beizukommen ist. "Ladykiller" etwa könnte vom Titel her ein Supermarkt-Produkt aus dem Hause Westernhagen sein. Entpuppt sich aber spätestens in der Live-Version, die Fallon und sein Kollege Ian Perkins auf den Konzerten von Chuck Ragans Revival Tour" spielen, als verträumte Betrugsfantasie eines mürben Masochisten, der mit A-Moll, F-Dur und C ein schmales Meisterwerk wirkt.
"And it would feel like heaven if I could sleep for a while", singt der nimmermüde Vorsteher von The Gaslight Anthem. Keine Landschaftsbilder, im ganzen Text nicht. Kein Fluss, keine Tränen, kein Straße und keine halbzerfallene Fabrik. Was würde Bruce Springsteen dazu sagen?
Watch me slide over here
Feel me breathe over there
I seen a ghost in our willow
Must've lost his lover somewhere
I been around a few times
Never caught a fever like you
Never seen me a woman
Turn a deeper shade of blue
And you must've met a man
Tall and handsome at that
Who must've put a spell on you, baby
Must've kept coming back
Cause I can smell him in your skin
I bet I taste him in your blood
Must be all the young boys, baby
Lady killer got the two of us
And how about this for a good one
Maybe we don't ever come down
I can leave the wound wide open
And maybe see if I can tough it out
Let it pour over my head
All your shame and your history
And see if I say a thing
As it rolls up inside of me
And you must've met a man
Tall and handsome at that
Who must've put a spell on you, baby
And must've kept on coming back
Cause I can smell him in your skin
I bet I taste him in your blood
Must be all the young boys, baby
Lady killer got the two of us
Don't cha say it feels like heaven
If you could sleep through the night
I used to just lay down and close my eyes
And it would feel like heaven
If I could sleep for a while
I used to float right above the fire
And you must've met a man
Tall and handsome at that
Who must've put a spell on you, baby
And must've kept on coming back
Cause I can smell him in your skin
I bet I taste him in your blood
Must be all the young boys, baby
Lady killer got the both of us
Lady killer got the both of us
Young boys, baby
